Free Republic

Enemy subs a tricky target Increasingly complex exercises train the Pacific Fleet to detect quiet new diesel craft By Gregg K. Kakesakogkakesako@starbulletin.comSEVENTY-FIVE MILES SOUTH OF OAHU » For nearly seven hours, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Bill Perkins and his Kaneohe Bay-based P-3 Orion sub-hunting aircraft spent the night participating in an anti-submarine chess game. The mission of his Patrol Squadron 4 Skinny Dragons was to keep submarines away from the high-value target presented by the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier and its 75 combat jets. Other Orion squadrons participating in the anti-submarine warfare exercise that ended Tuesday were Kaneohe Bay's VP-9 Golden...